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Psychologist Salary in Australia: How It Compares to the National Average

The median full-time psychologist salary is about $2,204 per week ($114,608 annually), above the national full-time average of $2,084 per week ($108,352).

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Psychologist Salary in Australia: Where It Sits Against the National Average

If you are researching a psychologist salary in Australia, the most current official figure comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia. For full-time psychologists and psychotherapists, the median weekly earnings were $2,204 as of May 2025. That translates to roughly $114,608 a year before tax.

This page uses that median as the best available benchmark and compares it with the national full-time average, the all-employees median, and the minimum wage. It also sketches what a resident might take home after tax.

The National Full-Time Average: The Line

Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares. The national reference is the ABS Average Weekly Earnings release for May 2026. For full-time adult employees in ordinary-time (excluding overtime), the average is:

  • $2,083.70 per week
  • $108,352 per year (multiplied by 52)

This is the line that the site uses. It is an average, not a median, and it covers all full-time adults across every industry and occupation. Men average about $113,412 a year; women about $100,594.

Psychologist Median vs the National Average

The psychologist median of $114,608 is $6,256 a year above the national full-time average. That is roughly 5.8% higher. It is also well above the all-employees median of about $74,100 a year (which includes part-time workers) and the full-time median of about $90,532.

Keep in mind that the psychologist figure is a median for full-time non-managerial employees, while the national average is a mean for all full-time adults. Medians are less affected by very high or low earners, so the comparison is reasonable but not exact.

A Resident Take-Home Sketch

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (nil up to $18,200, then 15%, 30%, 37%, and 45% above $190,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy), here is what a resident psychologist on the median salary might expect:

  • Gross annual salary: $114,608
  • Income tax: approximately $26,838
  • Medicare levy: approximately $2,292
  • After-tax income: about $85,478 per year or $1,644 per week

For comparison, someone earning the national full-time average of $108,352 would take home roughly $80,500 after similar tax and Medicare.

This is a simplified calculation. It does not include the Medicare levy surcharge, HELP or HECS repayments, or tax offsets. Use the Guides for more detailed calculators.

State Variations

Psychologist salaries can vary by location. The national full-time averages by state (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026) are:

  • New South Wales: $109,658
  • Victoria: $106,137
  • Queensland: $106,064
  • South Australia: $102,450
  • Western Australia: $115,825
  • Tasmania: $96,008
  • Northern Territory: $103,173
  • Australian Capital Territory: $119,090

A psychologist earning the national median of $114,608 would be above the state average in most places except Western Australia and the ACT. See States and territories for more detail.

How the Figures Are Set

The psychologist median comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, which is conducted every two years. The latest available data is from May 2025. Jobs and Skills Australia publishes occupation profiles using that survey. The national average comes from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey, which is released twice a year (May and November). The minimum wage is set by Fair Work and from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week.

For more on how these benchmarks are calculated, see How the figures are set.

Other Factors Affecting Psychologist Pay

  • Employment type: Only about 50% of psychologists work full-time, according to the ABS. Part-time earnings are lower on a weekly basis but may be comparable hourly.
  • Experience and seniority: The median age of psychologists is 44, suggesting many are mid-career. Entry-level salaries will be lower.
  • Sector: Psychologists in public hospitals, private practice, or schools may have different pay rates. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
  • Location: Remote and regional areas sometimes offer higher pay or incentives.

Summary

The median psychologist salary in Australia is about $114,608 a year, which is above the national full-time average of $108,352. After tax, a resident psychologist on that median might take home around $85,500. Use the Job medians page to compare with other professions, or Industry medians to see how different sectors pay.

This page is a guide only. Individual salaries vary widely. For the most current award rates, check Fair Work or your employer agreement.

Questions

What is the average psychologist salary in Australia?

The most reliable published figure is the median full-time weekly earnings for psychologists and psychotherapists, which was $2,204 per week as of May 2025, according to Jobs and Skills Australia using ABS data. That works out to about $114,608 a year before tax. Because half of full-time psychologists earn more and half earn less, the median is a better guide than a simple average. The ABS does not publish a separate average for psychologists in its latest Average Weekly Earnings release.

How does psychologist pay compare to the national average?

The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 a year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). The median psychologist salary of $2,204 per week is about $120 a week higher, or roughly 5.8% above the national average. For context, the full-time median across all occupations is about $1,741 per week ($90,532 a year), so psychologists sit well above that benchmark too.

What is the take-home pay for a psychologist on the median salary?

On the median full-time psychologist salary of $114,608 a year, a resident taxpayer in 2026–27 would pay about $26,838 in income tax plus $2,292 in Medicare levy (before any offsets), leaving roughly $85,478 after tax. That works out to about $1,644 per week. This is a rough sketch – actual take-home depends on HELP repayments, private health insurance, and other deductions. The national full-time average salary of $108,352 would leave about $80,500 after similar tax and Medicare.

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